Apparatus for sealing cans



(NoModel.)

U. A. WOODBURY.,

Apparatus for Sealingv Gan-s. No. 241,264. Patented May 10,1881.

N. PETERS, Photo-Lithographer, Wnshngon. D. C.

UNrref rares arent reise,

URBAN A. VOODBURL, OF BURLINGTON, VERMONT.

APPARATUS FOR SEALING CANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,264, dated May 10,1881.

Application tiled March 1G, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, URBAN A. WooDBURv, ot' Burlington, in the county ot' Chittenden and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Sealing Cans; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms part ol' this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in sealing cans; and it consists in the combination of a cone under which the can to be sealed is placed, and having a conduitthrough which the air may be exhausted from the cone, a vessel secured to the top of the cone for containing the sealing compound, and which coinpound is kept in a melted condition by means of any suitable heatin g device, a valve-rod and a measuring-chamber, whereby a specilied amount ot' sealing compound can be dropped upon the top ot the cork or other device used for closing the top ot' the can, and thus hermetically seal the can while in a vacuum, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is' to seal cans, while in a vacuum, by covering` the cork or other material used in closing the can with a compound which is impervious to air, and which compound will be always dropped upon the exact spot intended for it, and without the slightest danger of admitting air into the cone or vessel being sealed.

The accompanyingdrawing represents avertical section of my apparatus.

A represents the cone, of any desired shape, size, orconstruction, under or in which the can to be sealed is placed, and from which cone the air is exhausted by means ot' any suitable exhausting apparatus. Upon the top of this cone, and extending any suitable distance down into it, is secured the vessel B, in which the sealin g compound, ot any desired composition, is placed, and which compound is kept in a melted condition by means of the lamp C or any other suitable heatin g apparatus, and the jacket D, which incloses any suitable portion of the vessel B. Inside ot' this jacket is placed a suitable flange, which directs the heat from the lamp directly against the sides ot' the vessel B and prevents the hea-t from rising straight upward, as it otherwise would do. This jacket has suitable perforations made through its bottoni l'or air to enter and support combustion, and suitable openings through its top to allow the products ot' combustion to freely escape.

In the lower part ofthe vessel B, and at any suitable distance t'roin its lower end, is formed a measuring-chamber, F, which consists simply of two horizontal'partitions placed in the chamber, and which are separated any suitable dista-nce apart, according to the quantity ofthe sealing compound which is to be dropped upon the cork or cover o the can or other vessel placed in the cone to be sealed. Through the center ot' each one ot' these partitions which form this nieasuriiig-chamber is made a suitable hole, and passing through these two holes is a valve, I, which is secured to the lower end of the valve-rod L, which extends any suitable distance upward above the top ol" the vessel B, and which valve is held' in such a position, when left free to move, as to close the opening through the upper partition, so as to prevent any ot the sealing compound from ruiming into the chamber. This valve snugly tits the two openings made through the two partitions, so that noue of the sea-ling compound can escape from the vessel; but when the valve is depressed it sinks down through both of the projections until its top is just llush with the bottom ot the measuring-chamber. While the valve is pressed downward, so that its top sinks below the opening in the top of the measuringchamber, the sealing compound flows down into the chamber around the valve-rod until the chamber is lled, and then, as soon as the valverod is released, the spring raises the valve npward until it again closes the opening through the top of the measuring-chamber, and leaves the opening through its bottom open for the sealing compound to flow out on the top of the cork or cover which closes the can. This compound being impervious to air, and being dropped upon the exact spot intended for it, settles over the top of the cork or cover in such a manner as to make the cork air-tight. After the can has thus been sealed the air is again admitted to the cone, and the can which has just been sealed is removed therefrom, and another can put in its plaee to be again exhausted and sealed in the same manner.

0f course a suitable opening is made through the cork or stopper to the can or jar, so that the air can be exhausted from the can at the same time that it is exhausted from the cone.

rIhe sealing' composition is preferably made of paraflne and beeswax, which is very dense, and cools almost instantly after it drops l'rom the chamber.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of an exhausting-cone, a vessel to hold a sealing compound, a snitable means for keepingl the sealingcompound URBAN A. WOODBURY. Witnesses:

L. C. GRANT, C. H. SPENCER.. 

